[northfifeduckling]

Aren't they absolutely lovely babies, I found it hard to leave today! Shame I missed you, Sandy, was still clothes shopping with my girls when you were here.

[sandy]

We have moved on from clothes shopping!!!! We love being in our gardne and it was  hard to leave, I always have dirt in my finger anils (unless I wahs up) Wer put up a huge shed to give a home to the Ducks so we are looking forward to some new inhabitants!!!!

[jameslindsay]

Went into the office this morning to check in the ducklings and they were running about the room. They have managed to break free from their heated box and had poo'd everywhere but they were happy. They went straight into the bath for a swim before they went out to the shed. It is time to move them as they are making soooo much mess and smell now. Been out to check on them many times and they are fine and setled in. No more midnight escapes now! 

[northfifeduckling]

oh dear, I can imagine the mess! There's always one and all the others follow suit, like their mums (less so their dads lol). I hope you have enough space in the shed with the baby goats? I'm in the middle of organising the move up from Burntisland of the new temporary accommodation, which I then later possibly use for it's intended inhabitants (I'm very tempted after seeing Matilda!). Did you get the hen house and pick up your hens today? What horrible weather to do anything outside...

[jameslindsay]

There is plenty space in the shed for them all. The ducklings are up on the top shelf level and Gizmo and Fred have the whole floor space. Getting the 2 of them to bed is not easy these days as they want to be with Rosie and Toggi all the time. Trouble is the big ones only go to their shed if it is really cold or wet and the wee ones are still too wee to leave out all night.

It is a terrible day to collect the hens but they are here now. Matilda was in the hen house first so she should think she is the boss and not allow herself to get bullied like in her last life. I will lave them all locked up together for a day before I let them out to explore.

[jameslindsay]

It is a terrible day to collect the hens but they are here now. Matilda was in the hen house first so she should think she is the boss and not allow herself to get bullied like in her last life. I will lave them all locked up together for a day before I let them out to explore.
[/quote]

Famous last words I went out to feed the Pygmy Goats and the hens are wandering about quite the thing. The Pygmy's have obviously worked out how to open the door to the hen house, the wee buggers!!!! God knows how we will get the hens to bed later on. Watch out later for a thread offering "free to goog home - 7 Pygmy Goats" Oh I jest, I would not be without the thugs!

[jameslindsay]

I have now hatched quite a few ducklings over the  last year and the 9 I have just now are so, so scared from me for some reason. The minute I put my hand into their box they are terrified and I don't think I have spent any less time with this group than any of the others so find it strange. Anyone any ideas why they would be so scared all the time?

[sandy]

Looking forward to getting the Ducks, when will they be ready to sex!!!

[jameslindsay]

Hi Sandy - I reckon it will be another 4 weeks or so before we are any closer at knowing the sex of the ducklings, sorry. I had them outside in their run for a wee while yesterday and they enjoyed that. I will put them out again later as it is so nice. The problem is if the geese know the babies are out they come over and bully them through the wire - they are such thugs. This means that I really need to be out with them while they are in the run just incase the geese manage to "break in".

[sandy]

I am contemplating getting some POL pullets as I do not really produce enough eggs, my chickens that is, I stopped producing them a while ago , as they are going to share a shed with the Ducks and will be free to roam the garden together, do you think the Ducks will be able to fend for themselves or should I Waite until the Ducks are much larger? Maybe I should buy some eggs of Anne!!!!

[doganjo]

Anne is having a hard job keeping up with demand for eggs and is contemplating getting more pols too.  I'm also thinking of getting bob white quails fro training Allez - probably off ebay.  James, could you hatch teeny eggs like this?  They are very small birds when hatched.  Oh and quails eggs are fantastic!

[sandy]

Steve wants some showy chickens, not sure what we can get around here, I am not too bothered but as I said, 3 eggs a day and we will not have cake!!!!!

[jameslindsay]

Had a major panic with the ducklings this afternoon.

I put them in the bath, the first time for a few days and let them swim for about 20 minutes. When I lifted them out to let them dry off they could not stand/walk. I dried them off the best I could and put them back into their clean bed and lowered the heat lamp as they were freexing cold. A couple of them were not looking good so I wrapped them up in my jumper to give them heat. Now, they are all running about daft again. No idea what caused this, never experienced it before. The main thing is they are back to normal now.

[northfifeduckling]

you got me scared too, James! Maybe they were just exhausted from all the fun. I found that they had to rest an awful lot when they were little. I'll see you and the wee ones some time lunchtime tomorrow, hope I'm not interfering with business then!

[jameslindsay]

Kerstin - They are back to normal again. I paniced as never experienced anything like this before. I think they were just too cold and exhausted. It has been very cold here today and I had raised the heat lamp without lowering it as it cold colder. They are back to normal and happy, greedy wee buggers again. See you tomorrow.